COMETS FALL SHORT IN OVERTIME
Feb 22, 2017Buffalo, NY – The Utica Comets lost in overtime to the Rochester Americans by a score of 3-2 on Wednesday night at the KeyBank Center.
The Comets struck first with a deflection from Cody Kunyk at 14:38 of the first period. Jake Virtanen moved the puck to Jordan Subban who fired the puck towards the net. Kunyk’s tip was his ninth of the year. Just five seconds later, Hudson Fasching scored his fourth of the year. Paul Geiger dumped the puck into the offensive zone after a faceoff win from Daniel Muzito-Bagenda. The puck redirected to the slot with Richard Bachman anticipating the puck going behind the net. Fasching found the loose puck in the slot to fire into the empty net. The tie game carried into the second period.
Vaclav Karabacek gave the Americans a 2-1 lead 8:32 into the second period. His third of the year was assisted by Jean Dupuy and Tyson Strachan. In a period that featured six penalties, the goal was the only score of the period to propel the Americans into the third period with the lead.
Mike Zalewski tied the game just 4:16 into the third period with a rebound shot past Linus Ullmark. His second of the year was assisted by Andrey Pedan and Evan McEneny. The goal forced overtime which lasted only 24 seconds. Cal O’Reilly found a loose puck in front of the net after Bachman dove out to knock it away from Nick Baptiste. O’Reilly scored his ninth of the year to win the game after it was tipped toward the net by Baptiste.
Bachman took the overtime loss with 23 saves. Ullmark won his 20th game with 37 saves. The Comets did not score on four power plays but killed all five penalties. The Comets outshot the Americans 39-26.
The Comets return to the AUD on Friday night against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL Live. Despite a sellout crowd, fans can utilize the ticket exchange website, StubHub! to purchase tickets.
For the latest Comets news visit www.uticacomets.com or follow the team on Facebook (www.facebook.com/uticacomets), Twitter (@UticaComets), Instagram (@UticaComets), Snapchat (@UticaComets) and the Comets YouTube Channel.